Artists to take over empty Brierfield mill

Northlight, formerly Brierfield Mill, is hosting the exhibition called Light Touch tomorrow and Sunday from 10.30am to 4pm.

Organised by Brierfield-based arts organisation In-Situ, artworks and performances will be on view, all of which use the extraordinary empty structures for inspiration.

The art installations include new collaborative work by In-Situ and new work by past and four current in-residence artists:

l Mike Chavez-Dawson, who has created some poems with local residents.

l Autumn Knight, an African American artist from Houston, Texas, who has created a film exploring the cotton and slavery connection.

l Helmut Lemke, who has created a sound piece using the long echo in one of the empty floors.

l And Nayan Kulkarni, a London-based sound and light artist who has created a new light artwork.

The exhibition is part of Super Slow Way, which is a two-year programme led by the Canal and Rivers Trust and funded by Arts Council England. Communities are working with artists to create art inspired by the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

In-Situ Director and lead artist William Titley said: “In-Situ is at the heart of cultural planning at Northlight and we’re developing exciting new ventures for now and in the future.

“We want to broaden the horizon of possibilities which is why we’re inviting people to the mill over the weekend.

“This is a great opportunity to start to see how the arts can help to create a buzz about this extraordinary complex.

“It’s a fantastic development and we want to help bring local people and visitors into the mill and Pendle.

“We’re taking over the enormous space with pieces of art which we hope will animate and inspire those who come along.”

The event, which has been organised with Mid Pennine Arts, is supported by Pendle Enterprise And Regeneration Ltd, the joint venture company which has been set up between Pendle Council and Barnfield Investment Properties, who own the mill.

Coun. Joe Cooney, Leader of Pendle Council and a member of PEARL which is leading the transformation of the mill, added: “These events are all about ensuring local residents can regularly visit Northlight and feel part of something vibrant.

“Arts and culture are part of our ambitious masterplan for transforming this iconic building and making it a destination for the North West.

“By working with creative organisations like In-Situ, we can ensure cultural and artistic uses of the mill are part of its present and future.”